In October 1768, Pasquale Paoli tried to recapture U Borgu (Borgo), where a French force of 700 men under Colonel de Ludre was entrenched awaiting reinforcements.

Pasquale Paoli ordered his entire force to march on Borgo, whilst Clément Paoli kept a watch on Pascal's rear to prevent Le Roy de Grandmaison from descending from Oletta, where he had taken refuge.

De Marbeuf and Chauvelin left Bastia with 3,000 men to join the force in Borgo.

Paoli inspired his troops by telling them "Patriots, recall the Corsican Vespers, when on this very spot you destroyed the French.

Louis XV of France was surprised by the defeat and even thought of making no further armed attempts to incorporate Corsica into France, but the Duc De Choiseul made every effort to continue the war and repair the damage the defeat had done to his reputation.